The Power of Us - National Black Justice Coalition

the
POWER
US.
of
A Visual Public Awareness Campaign
Featuring images by Duane Cramer
The National Black Justice Coalition (www.nbjc.org) proudly presents a photographic journey spanning
the diversity of Black Americans featuring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals, along with our
families and allies. The following pages feature just a few of the out, proud, straight-allied and vocal members
of our community. We aim to break down walls of homophobia by sharing the vibrant, affirming, and supportive
lives of Black LGBT. The Power of Us celebrates the unity, value and worth of the Black LGBT community.
Design: Emily Foran | Make-up & Hair: Mark Starr | Duane Cramer photo by Philippe Gosselin
On previous page: Dr. Marjorie J. Hill, CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis
(GMHC) New York City; Greg Wilson & Jeffrey C. King, Greg is Youth
Coordinator at My Life, a component of In The Meantime Men’s Group,
which was envisioned and founded by Jeffrey, who is the Executive
Director; and Duane Cramer, photographer and social activist.
the
POWER
LEADERSHIP
of
Leadership is about providing a vision and purpose, and
defining goals in a way that influences others to join you in achieving
Toni Collins
a collective vision—a shared and purposed community goal.
Powerful and principled leaders have strong beliefs and values, a clear
sense of their own ethical standards, and understand the strengths and
weaknesses of their own characters. Equally important is that successful
leaders possess a great deal of knowledge and skills which allow them
to keep their eyes and ears to the future, recognize when there is a
need for change, and know how and when to implement and manage
those changes.
H. Alexander Robinson
C.E.O. & Executive Director of the
National Black Justice Coalition
Co-founder and
Chairman of the Board
of Directors for
Transgender Health
Empowerment inc.
It has almost become a cliché that leaders are “made, not born,” but
it seems to hold true over time. Some people are natural leaders; their
personality traits enable them to take on leadership roles. Others take on
leadership because of the circumstances calling for it. They respond to a
crisis which calls for a leader to resolve it. Still, others are transformational,
taking on leadership by choice and learning what it takes to lead.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prime example of a leader.
As we look back on history, his call to leadership seems to fit all three
paths to leadership. Dr. King’s role seems prophetic and a product of
circumstances at the same time. A gifted and youthful orator, Dr. King
held strong beliefs about justice and valued personal liberty and equality.
His Christian beliefs clearly articulated the ethical standards to which he
aspired and urged others to embrace. He was a man of great character
and outstanding knowledge and skills. However, he was called by the
times in which he lived to transform himself into not simply a leader of a
congregation of believers, but of a nation – a world – in need. (continued
on following pages)
Dr. C. Nicole Mason
Professor and Founder of the
National Women’s Alliance
the
POWER
LEADERSHIP
of
Like all great leaders, Dr. King understood
that the way to succeed in leadership—the
way to survive—was to reshape to the needs
of a rapidly changing world. All around him
African-Americans were the subjects of often
violent discrimination and racial oppression.
There were many who saw the way forward as
reciprocal violence. However, led by his wisdom
and the advice of a close advisor, Bayard
Rustin, Dr. King learned and pursed another
path to justice.
Rustin, a Black same-gender-loving man who
lived his life openly, had been introduced to the
non-violent tactics that became the bulwark
of Dr. King’s movement for civil rights. He was
a clarion voice to which King listened. Rustin
too was a leader. Imagine what could have
happened if these two icons of our nation’s
history had not charted a non-violent path to
justice—such is the power of leadership.
thereby becoming the first Black to serve in that
body since 1883. In 1967 Jordan became the first
Black elected official to preside over that body; she
was also the first Black state senator to chair a major
committee, Labor and Management Relations, and
the first freshman senator ever named to the Texas
Legislative Council. In 1972, Barbara Jordan was
elected to the U.S. Congress from the Eighteenth
Congressional District in Houston.
Both as a state senator and as a U.S.
Congresswoman, Jordan championed the cause
of poor, Black and disadvantaged people. One
of her most important bills as senator was the
Workman’s Compensation Act, which increased
the maximum benefits paid to injured workers.
As a congresswoman, she sponsored legislation
to broaden the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to
cover Mexican-Americans in Texas and other
southwestern states and to extend its authority to
those states where minorities had been denied the
right to vote or had had their rights restricted by
unfair registration practices, such as literacy tests.
Being a leader is not often easy, and many great
leaders overcome tremendous odds and make
extraordinary personal sacrifices to become Jordan was a lesbian with a longtime companion
champions for their causes. Barbara Jordan of more than 20 years, Nancy Earl, though she
never publicly acknowledged her sexual orientation
was such a leader.
Jordan’s courageous leadership remains an
Barbara Jordan was born in the Fifth Ward of inspiration to all Americans, especially Black LGBT
Houston, Texas to a Black Baptist minister, Americans. Thus, we know both the power and the
Benjamin Jordan, and a domestic worker, price of her leadership.
Arlyne Jordan. She attended Roberson
Elementary and Phyllis Wheatley High School. Of course leaders seldom lead alone and often
She attended Texas Southern University, and in have the companionship of family. In some cases
1956 she graduated magna cum laude with a they share the mantle of leadership. Certainly
Coretta Scott King was an inspiration, as a helper
double major in political science and history.
to Dr. King and later a leader in her own right.
Jordan ran for a seat in the Texas House of
Representatives in 1962 and 1964, but lost both That is certainly true in the lives of Dr. Alvin Williams
times. She made history when she was elected and Nigel Simon. Alvin is a native of South Carolina
to the newly drawn Texas Senate seat in 1966, and a practicing dentist in Maryland. Nigel is an
Phill Wilson
environmental protection specialist for the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in DC.
Founder and
Executive
Director
of the Black
AIDS Institute
Maurice Jamal
Director, writer, & producer whose recent
work includes the film, “Dirty Laundry”
Alvin and Nigel are raising their three adopted
children in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
They are one of the nine couples who sued the
state of Maryland for the right to marry. They
met in 1977, and after three years of courtship
affirmed their commitment to each other in a
Holy Union commitment ceremony.
Throughout the course of their relationship, the
two had often discussed the idea of raising a
family. In 2001 they adopted three-year-old
Kiran. Later they would adopt Renee and Mateo,
a brother and sister; all three children were from
a foster home.
Alvin and Nigel are pillars of the black LGBT
community in the greater Washington, DC area.
Their commitment to their family, their church,
the black community and LGBT civil rights is
well-known and shows in everything they do.
They lead by example, and they lead because
they care. The power of their love is the power
of leadership.
To be a leader is to be committing of one’s self
to empowering others. To lead is to understand
that leadership is not solely or even primarily
about being in charge, but rather about having,
acquiring and exercising the capacity to motivate
and move others to action.
If you are ready to lead, sit up and take the reins,
but comfort yourself for it may be a bumpy ride.
In the end its rewards are shared and plentiful.
-H. Alexander Robinson
Courtney Snowden
Lobbyist and President of D.C. Black Pride
Rev. Dyan McCray
Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church
in Washington, D.C.
the
POWER
SPIRITUALITY
of
Someone once said that we are not human beings who
have spiritual encounters, but spiritual beings having a human
encounter. Spiritual, beings of the soul, sacred, eternal. The power
Ray Cunningham
Actor and star of BET’s reality
television series, “College Hill”
of spirituality; tapping into the eternal resources of the divine. The
power of spirituality is the power of love, of God, of the celestial and
the sacred. There is no greater power.
Our eternal souls are expressing themselves within our mortal, human
casing. We are God’s thoughts in human form. Ever deepening spirituality
involves our relationships to God, others and ourselves. Yet we LGBT
people have had to endure experiences, attitudes and realities beneath
the dignity of a sovereign people and children of God.
And yet, we have survived. We have survived without the benefit of powerful
privileges. We have survived a culture constructed in direct animosity
and opposition to the very possibility of our divinity. We have spent time,
energy, money and intellectual capital addressing the moral questions of
our day, by simply and profoundly trying to “snatch our humanity from the
fires of human cruelty,” as James Baldwin wrote.
It has been placed upon us to be involved in the moral and spiritual
questions: Who are we as human beings? Why are we here? Where are
we going? What is the purpose of our faith?
Cheril N. Clarke
Prolific author of four novels
and a stage play
I submit to you that the purpose of our faith should be to bring justice to
the world. And justice does not mean just us gays and lesbians. It does not
mean just us African-Americans, or just us Europeans, or just us Latinos,
or just us Native Americans, or just us Christians. If your faith is not about
doing justice every time and place you can then I say that you need to
expand the parameters of your spirituality.
You need to see or be aware of the connections of the oppressions.
You are challenged to connect the dots between racism, sexism and
homophobia—lies to the spirit, soul-killing brews of animosity and hostility.
(continued on following pages)
the
POWER
SPIRITUALITY
of
Alicia Banks
Dr. Sylvia Rhue
Columnist, producer and host of
both talk and music radio shows
Director of Religious Affairs
at the National Black Justice Coalition
Darryl Stephens
Best known for playing Noah Nicholson
on the television dramedy, “Noah’s Arc”
Otis Gaddis
Public intellectual and theological student
Stanley Bennett Clay
Author of three novels and recipient of
three NCAAP Theatre Awards and three
Drama-logue Awards for writing, directing
and co-producing
Spiritually enlightened people have figured
out that discrimination, not homosexuality, is
immoral and love between consenting adults is
a glorious thing no matter the orientation. The
profound spiritual leader Bishop Yvette Flunder
said: “God is not using us in spite of who we
are, God is using us because of who we are.”
Our gayness is a spiritual gift that has brought
blessings to the world through our collective
talents, our enduring spirit, and our place in the
universe as those who raise consciousness and
have much to teach the world about love.
How do we characterize our historical moment?
That is up to us as we address the moral
and spiritual questions of the day. Marianne
Williamson’s thoughts on spirituality brought to
the world’s attention by Nelson Mandela in his
inaugural speech:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light not our dark that most
frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be
brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually,
who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around
you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God
that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in
everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do
the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.”
We are “powerful beyond measure” because
we are spiritual beings.
-Dr. Sylvia Rhue
the
POWER
RELATIONSHIPS
of
Beverly Rhue
& son Tom Rhue
A relationship is a connection between two (or more, in
some cases) people who share an emotional and/or physical
At 85, Beverly is a proud
mother of her gay son and
lesbian daughter;
Tom is Associate Senior Vice
President at the University of
Southern California
involvement with each other. The foundation of a relationship typically
requires communication and time, and in romantic relationships
also includes intimacy. But in powerful relationships the ingredients
required are savvy individuals who function as one unit who are able
to understand, trust, forgive and commit to one another.
From the start, same-gender relationships are fighting an up-hill battle
when compared to those in the heterosexual community. It’s very similar
to the generational Black family saying about our white counterparts that
“everything they do [whites], Blacks have to do and work twice as hard” in
order to get the same degree and amount of recognition.
As gay men and women, we have to put forth double the amount of work
and effort in comparison to our relationship than our straight brothers and
sisters do. The foundations of straight and gay relationships are similar in
their need for communication, time and intimacy.
Renee Henderson
Human Resource professional
Quincy LeNear
& Deondray Gossett
Co-creators/ producers/ directors
of the internationally acclaimed
television series, “The DL Chronicles”
But gay people take on additional baggage in trying to determine who
is head of the household and/or who wears the pants. A gay man, for
example, isn’t only concerned about whether or not the person he is
dating is someone he would take home to meet his mother, but rather, if
that person is someone with whom he wants to be seen in public.
Straight people are less likely to worry about how straight they are, whereas
gay people typically question just how masculine, feminine, flamboyant, or
“straight-acting” they are.
Further, our society has placed numerous constraints upon gay relationships
by restricting marriage between two people of the same gender. While a
few states allow same-gender marriages and/or civil unions, the majority
of states have openly barred the recognition of same-gender marriage.
the
POWER
RELATIONSHIPS
of
This causes trouble in same-gender relationships
when seeking the financial benefits associated
with taxes, home-ownership, insurance and
other tangible items. And let’s not forget death.
Even with proper planning and careful drafting of
legal documents same-gender couples are only
able to accomplish some of these things. The
institution of marriage affords over 1,000 federal
benefits that civil unions and legal documents
cannot. But Love conquers all and successful
relationships are do-able if both parties are ready.
The first step requires that you be at peace with
yourself. To be at peace with yourself, you must
know where your limits and comfort zones exist.
Do you know your strengths and challenges or
what you can or cannot tolerate and how those
things relate to your morals?
Once you have figured out who you are, you
have to be ready to love you, because who
you think you are is important and the key to
making yourself complete. Basically, you can’t
expect someone to love you when you don’t
love yourself; nor should you expect someone
else to make you feel whole either. Instead you
should look for someone who compliments
your completeness.
have nothing to lose, so pay attention. Also keep in
mind that communication involves both verbal and
non-verbal skills, therefore you don’t need someone
who says one thing, and does another. If you hear
or see something you cannot tolerate don’t go into
the relationship thinking you can change it. Most
importantly, don’t fool yourself into believing that
you will be able to tolerate it either, because all the
things you accept against your better knowledge
will be the things you regret in the end.
Next, we must trust, which is not easy to build
and can make or break a relationship. It can take
weeks, months or years to establish trust in a
relationship, but only one incident to destroy it.
Trust is one of the first steps of risk for the people
involved because you are letting down your walls
and exposing yourself. Most people start to trust
their partner more by observing how their partner
is likely to behave in certain situations and making
sure their actions are consistent.
Partners generally reward one another when right,
and punish them when wrong. Therefore, it is
important not to conceal things and to be open
with your partner so s/he will feel comfortable with
you. Any major changes in how you perceive the
relationship must be communicated to your partner
know first. The deep hurt often comes when s/
Next, we must learn how to communicate, he hears it from someone else or discovers it on
because love is a contract, and everyone needs their own.
to be aware of what it is they are agreeing
to. Communication requires being able to After that comes Forgiveness, because no
understand what you want from the relationship relationship is perfect and forgiveness restores
and being able to convey your goals and trust. The hard part about forgiveness is that it
ambitions to your partner. It is okay to disagree, snaps you right back to step one, like a “go straight
but always try to understand what your partner to jail” card in Monopoly, and you can’t collect that
is saying.
$200 for all the other stuff you went through. Don’t
seek revenge or retribution, because it will only
The first few conversations are typically the most prolong the pain.
truthful because people generally feel like they
Dr. Phillip B. Terry
& brother John T. Terry
Phillip is Senior Director of Emergency
and International Services, American Red
Cross of the National Capitol Area. John is
a straight ally to the LGBT community.
Patrik Ian Polk
That is why the first step is exactly that, because
you have already decided what you could and
could not tolerate. Remember, you don’t deserve
to be abused, constantly betrayed and lied to,
because you ought to have better. However,
if you decide to forgive your partner you can’t
throw the mistake in his/her face later or use it
as ammunition in another argument.
Arguments are arguments, and they don’t
necessarily lead to break ups or fights.
Sometimes when we argue we say things
we do not mean that need to be forgiven.
No relationship can last a long period of time
without forgiveness.
If you have been able to accomplish all of
these other steps, you’ve now reached the
Commitment step. This stage is the best
because you have already determined that love
takes work and that your partner is the one you
want on your team. You know there is no perfect
partner, but there is a perfect partner for you.
Screenwriter, singer,
actor & creator of the
Black gay series,
“Noah’s Arc” as
well as the film,
“Punks”
Gloria Bigelow
Out & proud comedienne
I believe my friend Cory, a DC resident who has
been with his partner for seven years and with
whom he shares a child, said it best when he
told me, “A BETTER YOU IS A BETTER ME.”
He went on to say that single people are often
powerful and successful in their professional
lives, but that they usually don’t know how
to transfer that success into a relationship.
Relationships are full-time jobs on top of the
career you are working to establish.
At the end of the day, your relationship is your
relationship and no one else’s. Follow your heart,
and don’t let society determine or influence
your happiness because you have the power to
make your relationship successful.
-Robert D. Snowden
the
POWER
of
Kathy Harris
Actress, model, host,
poet and star of
BET reality television
series, “College Hill”
MEDIA
Whether it happens consciously or unconsciously, society
takes many of its cues, mores, cultural identities, and personal
beliefs from the messages and images generated by and through
the media. What was once considered taboo yester-year is currently
considered “in” today. What was once considered to be risqué a
generation ago is now considered to be completely blasé today.
Staceyann Chin
Artist, out poet and
political activist
The cultural evolution from who we once were in the past to who we are
today is due in large part to the power and the persuasiveness of the media.
That is why it is absolutely imperative that the Black LGBT community take
control of its own identity, its own message, its own image, and its own
media presentation.
As long as Pastor, Big Mama and Uncle Joe are not aware of the vibrant,
productive, spiritually dynamic and creatively brilliant contributions and
lives of our community along with knowledge of the massive numbers that
we exist, it only perpetuates the stereotypes of what it is to be LGBT. To
them we still are caricatures and a collage of stereotypes long held over
from the past.
Carey Sherrell
Fashion designer and
star of NBC reality
television series,
“Apprentice”
But today through the power of the internet, television, radio and through
books and magazines, a 15 year old boy in rural Mississippi spiraling deep
in depression can be uplifted by reading about others just like him who
have soared in all areas of their lives.
Paris Barclay
Emmy Award-winning Director
and Producer
Today a closeted 43 year old mother of four living in the South side of
Chicago can see, read, and hear the stories of other women just like
herself and take comfort in knowing that not only is she not alone, but that
there are resources and support systems that will assist her in coming out
to her authentic self.
Today to be Black and openly LGBT can no longer be seen as an anomaly
but instead as a reality. Today our images, our lives, and our spiritual
the
POWER
of
MEDIA
Doug Spearman
paths are gushing into the vibrant tapestry of
American culture as well as the culture of the
world through the power of the media.
Actor/Activist best known
for playing Chance Counter
on the television dramedy,
“Noah’s Arc”
Just 5 years ago there were no Black LGBT
television series. Today we can boast “The
DL Chronicles” and “Noah’s Arc.” Just 5 years
ago, there was only one nationwide Black Gay
Magazine. Today we boast 4 and counting!
Just 5 years ago there was no nationwide,
viably active, fully funded and fully staffed Black
LGBT civil rights organization advocating in the
political arena, through the media and through
an extensive faith outreach on behalf of Black
LGBT men, women and youth. Today we have
the National Black Justice Coalition which does
all of this and more.
NBJC understands, recognizes and embraces
the power of the media. We reach people where
they are through the media. Through the power
of the internet, we have pioneered our way via
our websites, blogs, webcasts, and podcasts
in displaying, highlighting, and celebrating the
lives of Black LGBT.
Steven Emmanuel
We have also produced a nationwide print
magazine, NYANSAPO so that there is printed
proof of our vibrant and unashamed existence.
We also target and pitch news stories to
mainstream media outlets that specifically
include stories about our lives as Black LGBT.
Hence NBJC has become part of the solution of
increasing the visibility of our community and in
taking complete control and ownership in telling
our own stories, framing our own messages,
creating our own identities, and developing our
own media portrayals.
-Herndon L. Davis
Co-writer and producer of
“Christopher Street,” a recipient of the
Best Teen Blog and Youth Courage
Recognition awards, and launching a
new short film, “Rainbow’s End”
Rashad
Robinson
Senior Director of
Media Programs
for the Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD)